Whitefish Mountain Resort

Known for its dramatic snowghosts (and persistent fog), Whitefish Mountain gets fairly average snow (about 300 inches yearly), but the mountain wears it well. Powder stashes in the bowls and glades present even the most accomplished skiers with ample thrills, while intermediate terrain provides plenty of opportunity to carve up a storm.

Drop off the kids for a lesson and head up the Big Mountain Express to explore the chutes and forests of Hellroaring. Or take the whole family out to slay corduroy on the mountain’s extensive—and worthy—front side.

As far as Montana resorts go, Whitefish is big, with 98 runs scattered across about 3,000 acres, hence the vintage moniker “Big Mountain.” Size-wise, it’s on par with Colorado resorts like Copper Mountain and Crested Butte, and unlike most of Montana’s ski areas, it has a base “village.”

Fortunately, the development hasn’t turned Whitefish pretentious. Tourists still blend in easily with locals while grabbing coffee in town before hitting the slopes. Apres-ski means grabbing a beer at The Great Northern or The Craggy Range. For the most part, skiing in Whitefish is still about skiing. But be wary: Now that Ski Magazine readers have ranked Whitefish Mountain Resort the 11th-best resort in the nation, there might be more competition for first tracks.